Method for distribution of coupons in a grocery store

ABSTRACT

A method for making available and distributing manufacturer coupons inside a grocery store is disclosed. The method comprises making available manufacturer coupons inside egg cartons. Customers, wishing to purchase eggs usually inspect eggs prior to purchase. Manufacturer coupons, positioned between the eggs and the lid would be discovered by the customer during inspection. The coupons are removable from the egg carton and can be used by the customer during that visit for redemption of products identified by the coupon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Coupons are widely used as a tool for increasing sales ofconsumer products or services. These coupons are generally eitherredeemed when purchasing the product or service described on the coupon,or as part of a mail-in rebate offer following purchase.

[0002] The use of coupons with product packaging is well known. U.S.Pat. No. 6,237,843 issued to Falat et. al., discloses a container lidhaving a coupon printed thereon. The Falat et. al. reference disclosesthat it is known to include coupons or other inserts in packaginglocated within an interior compartment. Falat et. al. also disclosesthat when the package is used for food products, the most importantrequirement is the necessity of keeping the food and coupon isolatedfrom one another to prevent contamination.

[0003] Another patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,534 issued to Lapp,illustrates the importance of coupons for product marketing. Lappdescribes that in 1990, 276 billion coupons were distributed in theUnited States. The coupons were redeemed at a value of $3.5 billion.However, redemptions represented only 2.5% of those issued. More recentstudies have indicated redemptions have dropped to approximately 0.5% ofthe approximately 370 billion coupons distributed in the United States.Two reasons attributed to this drop are: 1) the inconvenience ofclipping and saving coupons; and, 2) the reduced free time of consumers.

[0004] Lapp also discloses a coupon delivery system which requires theincorporation of a special recess to be manufactured into the lid'sexterior surface and the coupons disposed therein and maintained thereinby a label cover. The manufacture of the recess and the required labelcover are additional costs which may be undesirable for commercial use.

[0005] It is known in the prior art to position a single coupon restingon the top of one or more eggs so that it is between the eggs and thelid when in the lid is in the closed position. This use was not verysuccessful in part because the coupons were lightweight and could not beplaced consistently into the same position in each carton. These couponscould also shift position within the egg carton; sometimes obstructingthe view of eggs when a vue-post egg carton was used.

[0006] Coupons are also available from a variety of sources. Localnewspapers are the predominant source for coupons accounting forapproximately 88% of the coupons distributed. Coupons are also foundprinted on product containers, boxes or lids which have to be cut andremoved for redemption. Some product manufacturers have included couponswithin their sealed containers. By way of example, a coupon can beplaced within a sealed cereal box where the coupon is for the samecereal or for a different product offered by the manufacturer. Thecoupons just described are redeemable during a purchaser's subsequentvisit to a grocery store.

[0007] One method which is used to distribute coupons in a grocery storeoccurs at the time of purchase; specifically, a coupon is printed alongwith the customer's sales receipt. This method uses a bar code scannerto identify the items purchased and, based upon the items purchased,determines appropriate coupons to be printed for the customer as aninducement to use these coupons on a subsequent visit.

[0008] Still another method for distributing coupons within a grocerystore utilizes coupon dispensers located throughout the store and whichare generally positioned near the item for which the coupon isredeemable. Typically, a customer only obtains a coupon using thismethod when she is at the location within the store where the product isstocked.

[0009] One other method is for the grocery store to have copies of itsrecent newspaper advertisements located at the entrance of the store.These “store newspapers” contain coupons offered by the grocery storealthough manufacturer coupons may also be offered. Coupons located insuch store newspapers must be separated from the newspaper page, usuallyby tearing. This is an inconvenience to most customers; particularlythose who are pressed for time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A method for distributing coupons in a grocery store utilizingthe placement of coupons within egg containers or egg cartons of the“clam shell” variety. This method can be used for clam shell egg cartonswhich are of the vue-post type as well as those which are not.

[0011] Typically, egg cartons are formed into a single unit comprising abase section and a lid section which is pivotally connected thereto. Foruse in the retail sale of eggs, egg cartons are located usually alongthe back of a grocery store. Recent store configurations have alsoincluded positioning egg cartons and other dairy products along eitherthe left side or right side perimeter isle of the store. With any of theconfigurations described, a consumer wishing to purchase eggs enters thestore and travels to an area somewhat distant from the check out area.Before selecting an egg carton for purchase, many customers have atendency to open the egg carton and inspect the eggs contained thereinfor damage.

[0012] The present invention discloses the placement of a coupon sheetinto an egg carton. As used in this specification, the term “couponsheet” can refer to either a single sheet upon which is printed eitheradvertising, promotional offers, a single coupon, or multiple couponsseparated from one another by perforations (referred to herein as aperforated coupon sheet).

[0013] The coupon sheets are folded and inserted into the egg carton insuch a way so as not to interfere with the closure mechanism on thefront side of the egg carton and also to not obstruct the view of theeggs through the aperture holes found on the lid section if a vue-posttype egg carton is used. Preferably, the coupon sheets arepharmaceutical folded although any folding scheme can be used so long asthe folded coupons can be properly positioned so as not to interferewith the closure mechanism of the egg carton or damage the eggs.

[0014] Each coupon sheet can be printed with multiple coupons or canalternatively be printed with special advertising such as a promotionaloffer or even a promotional game or contest. The coupon sheets arefolded and then preferably positioned along the pivotal connection. Thepivotal connection is defined as that area of the egg carton from whichthe lid section can be pivotally displaced relative to the base sectionbetween an open position and a closed position. This pivotal connectionis located on the side of the egg carton opposite of the lockingmechanism which can maintain the carton in the closed position. Asdefined here, pivotal connection does not have to be a separate part butcan include areas of the lid and base sections which are connectivelyadjacent to each other.

[0015] Positioning the folded coupon sheets along the pivotal connectionprevents the coupon sheets from shifting during transport. When the eggcarton is in the closed position, the folded coupon sheet is disposedbetween the row of eggs adjacent to the pivotal connection, the pivotalconnection, and the lid section.

[0016] A folded coupon sheet is preferably desired since multiplecoupons can be provided for in a very limited space.

[0017] A customer desiring to purchase eggs will typically open the eggcarton and discover the folded coupon sheet inside. By way of example,if the coupon sheet is a perforated coupon sheet, a customer inspectingeggs at the grocery store, can immediately remove the perforated couponsheet, unfold it, and discover a plurality of coupons for immediate usewithin the store. The customer can easily separate a desired coupon fromthe other coupons by tearing along the perforations about that coupon'sperimeter. This is a significant departure from the method describedearlier where a coupon is printed at the time of purchase for use duringa subsequent visit.

[0018] From a marketing standpoint, these coupons will serve as aninducement for the customer to purchase a product that she may nototherwise have intended to purchase. By obtaining these coupons at apoint away from the check-out area, the customer is more inclined tocontinue shopping, and go to the product of interest on the couponbefore proceeding to the check-out area.

[0019] The egg carton can thus serve as a source for many manufacturercoupons to be available at a grocery store and most importantly, beredeemable during that same visit.

[0020] The method described herein can not only be used for insertion ofmanufacturer coupons, but also for grocery store coupons, sometimescalled “private label” or “store brand” coupons. Most major grocerystore chains provide competitive egg cartons for sale which bear theirown store brand. Rather than inserting manufacturer coupons, these eggcartons can alternatively contain grocery store coupons which can beused separately, or combined for use with manufacturer coupons.

[0021] Besides grocery stores, the method for distribution using eggcartons can include other channels of trade such as, but not limited todrug stores, convenience stores and mass merchandisers.

[0022] Because egg packing facilities handle wholesale orders for eggsfor both grocery chains and for individual stores, coupon distribution,according to our invention, is unique in that coupons can be targetedfor a specific store chain and even for a specific store. This offersthe potential for targeting coupon versions for specific stores or storegroups which are part of a grocery chain.

[0023] Similarly, different consumer groups can be targeted by offeringdifferent coupon sheets for various egg size carton groups. By way ofexample, cartons containing large eggs may receive one version of acoupon sheet, while cartons containing jumbo eggs may receive adifferent coupon sheet.

[0024] It is therefore an object of the invention to make available avariety of coupons to customers from a specific location in a grocerystore for redemption by a customer during that visit to the grocerystore.

[0025] It is a further object of the invention to utilize existing eggcarton design minimizing the additional cost associated with use of thisinvention.

[0026] A final object of the invention is to afford the retail storechains the opportunity to customize the type of coupon sheets to beoffered to customers. The offerings can be customized by eithergeographic location or by egg carton type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an egg carton of the “clam shell”variety in the closed position used according to the invention.

[0028]FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0029]FIG. 3 is an egg carton shown in the open position displaying afolded coupon sheet.

[0030]FIG. 4 illustrates a customer removing the folded coupon sheetfrom the egg carton.

[0031]FIG. 5 illustrates the customer unfolding the coupon sheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0032] The method for distributing manufacturer coupons in a grocerystore utilizes a typical prior art clam shell egg carton 10 having abase section 12 with individual egg compartments, and pivotallyconnected lid section 14, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0033] A plurality of eggs 16 are positioned in egg carton 10. Couponsheet 18 is folded and can then be added to egg carton 10 and, whendelivered to the grocery store, is located in the egg carton asillustrated in FIG. 2. Coupon sheet 18 is shown in general in FIG. 2,FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Coupon sheet 18 is preferably pharmaceutical foldedalthough these figures do not so represent.

[0034] Timing for the insertion of folded coupon sheet 18 into eggcarton 10 is not critical. They can be inserted at any time after thecarton has been filled with eggs. All that matters is that folded couponsheet 18 be inserted into egg carton 10 at a time before the eggs areready for retail purchase by customers.

[0035] Egg cartons 10 are then transported to grocery stores and thenstacked by grocery personnel. Typically, grocery stores stack eggcartons in the dairy section which is usually located near the rear ofthe store.

[0036] The majority of customers who purchase eggs typically open eggcarton 10 to inspect the eggs. As illustrated in FIG. 3, upon opening,the customer will discover folded coupon sheet 18. The customer is freeto remove coupon sheet 18 from carton 10 as shown and FIG. 4 and unfoldthe sheet as shown in FIG. 5. In this example, the coupon sheetcomprises multiple coupons separated from one another by perforations20. The coupons would be available for redemption during the same visit.The arrows shown in FIG. 5 indicate in general the unfolding of foldedcoupon sheet 18, and should not be interpreted as a specific method ofunfolding a coupon sheet.

[0037] Once a customer discovers the coupon sheet, some of the couponsmay be of interest to the consumer, inducing her to purchase aparticular item which she may have not had a previous interest inpurchasing.

I claim:
 1. A method for distribution of coupons to customers within agrocery store comprising: providing an egg carton of the clam shell typehaving a lid section and a base section, said base section havingindividual compartments into which are positioned a respective egg;providing a coupon sheet which is folded and disposed between said eggsand said lid section; positioning a plurality of said egg cartons in agrocery store; and, removing said coupon sheet from one of said eggcartons by a customer.
 2. The egg carton of claim 1 wherein said couponsheet comprises a plurality of coupons each separated from adjacentcoupons by perforations.
 3. The egg carton of claim 1 wherein saidcoupon sheet comprises an advertisement.
 4. A method for distribution ofcoupons to customers within a grocery store comprising: providing an eggcarton of the clam shell type having a lid section and a base sectionwhere a pivotal connection connects said base section to said lidsection, said base section further having individual compartments intowhich are positioned a respective egg, providing a coupon sheet which isfolded and positioned between said pivotal connection, said lid section,and said eggs; positioning a plurality of said egg cartons in a grocerystore; and, opening said egg carton and removing said coupon sheet fromone of said egg cartons by one of the customers for redemption.
 5. Theegg carton of claim 4 wherein said coupon sheet comprises a plurality ofcoupons each separated from adjacent coupons by perforations.
 6. The eggcarton of claim 4 wherein said coupon sheet comprises an advertisement.7. A clam shell type egg carton containing eggs for retail purchase, theegg carton having a base section with individual compartments forholding a multiplicity of eggs, and a lid section where a pivotalconnection connects the lid section to the base section and can displacethe lid section relative to the base section between an open positionand a closed position, the improvement comprising: a folded coupon sheetpositioned along a portion of the pivotal connection such that when theegg carton is in the closed position, said folded coupon sheet isdisposed between the eggs adjacent to the pivotal connection, thepivotal connection and the lid section.
 8. The egg carton of claim 7wherein said coupon sheet comprises a plurality of coupons eachseparated from adjacent coupons by perforations.
 9. The egg carton ofclaim 7 wherein said coupon sheet comprises an advertisement.